Moving Through the Dark
Disclaimer: The characters depicted, settings, and some terminology in this fan work are the property of Natsuki Takaya. The views and opinions of this fan based work in no way reflect the views or opinions of Natsuki Takaya. This is a fanfiction written purely for entertainment purposes and nothing more. The author of this fan based work receives no profit gain in writing this
WARNING: Contains content NOT suitable for children under the age of 17, and readers are strongly cautioned. The following contains but is not limited to, rape, inappropriate language, and violence.
AN: First work in this fandom so go easy on me please : ) Updates on this fic will likely be monthly and it's likely to be about 4 chapters long.
Chapter 1
It was in the darkness she sat with her back to the wall. This curse it would eventually consume her body and soul. They had no right to be happy, to laugh, to live such carefree lives. She grit her teeth recalling how Tohru smiled at her, it was warm and bright. That smile made her insides crawl. She could hear the girl wishing her well even though she'd been nothing but cruel to her. How could a person like this exist? A person who always smiles? It wasn't fair, not when she was stuck inside dying slowly.
Akito's face twisted with pain as she began to sob. It really wasn't fair and if she couldn't live a carefree life she decided they wouldn't either. Tohru would regret her place in that house. She would break her. She would break them all for leaving her.
xxx
Sunlight filtered through pink curtains falling on the Tohru's sleeping figure. Her face scrunched as she rolled over clutching her blanket closer to her body not wanting to give up the warmth her bed offered. She had worked late the night before and she really wanted the extra sleep. She tried her best to fall back asleep when their was a light knock on her door.
"Miss Honda, are you awake?" Yuki called quietly from the other side of the door.
Tohru climbed wearily out of bed and pulled on her robe over pajamas before opening the door. She managed a small smile even though she was sleepy. Her hair was a little ruffled from sleep. Yuki hadn't seen her this tired looking since she was sick. He frowned looking her over. Her eyes seemed puffy and she looked paler than usual.
"Good morning Sohma." she greeted him with as much cheer as she could muster.
"I noticed you weren't in the kitchen when I woke up." he stated matter-of-factly.
"Oh I um...sorry I must have overslept! I'll get right to breakfast." she stammered as she moved to pass him.
Yuki caught her wrist gently stopping her in her tracks. She felt her face heat up at his touch. She wasn't used to boys touching her, especially not someone like Yuki. She glanced backward at him trying to discern what he was thinking. It was always difficult to figure out what was on his mind. His face rarely gave any clues, but sometimes she could find one. However, she couldn't figure it out and waited for him to do something as she felt her cheeks growing hotter.
"No, wait. Don't misunderstand. I thought maybe you weren't feeling well." he admitted as his gaze swept over her features looking for more traces she might have fallen ill.
"I think I'm just tired from taking those extra shifts last week, but I'm okay. I'm tough just like my mom. I can handle it." she exclaimed with a grin.
Yuki sighed with relief. It would seem Tohru was healthy other than being a bit tired. They were currently on a spring break from school so she should have plenty of time to recover as long as she didn't work any more extra shifts.
"Didn't you work late last night too? Don't tell me you have work again tonight?" Yuki asked with concern clear in his tone.
Tohru shifted her stance and grinned that goofy grin and he didn't need to hear her response he knew she had to work again this evening. She was always pushing herself so hard, and it always caused Yuki to worry even though he never openly admitted to it or addressed it with her.
"Yea, I have to be in at twelve today. The offices are closed early today, so I need to be there a bit earlier than usual."
"Well if you need rest don't concern yourself with any housework today." he spoke with his trademark princely smile.
"No, I couldn't do that. It's my job to cook and clean." Tohru argued and made to move down the hallway, but Yuki still had her wrist in his hand. He pulled her gently backward toward himself.
"The stupid cat can cook, and I will clean in your stead today. Stay in bed and rest please." he spoke calmly but he was concerned. He stared at her expectantly waiting for her response before Kyo's bedroom door slammed open hitting the wall with a resounding bang.
"What are saying about me rat-boy!" Kyo interrupted fists up ready for a fight causing Yuki to drop Tohru's wrist.
"Kyo, good morning." she greeted a bit surprised by his sudden outburst in her sleepy state.
He glanced over in her direction taking in her appearance. Even in his angered state he noticed how tired she looked even though it was well after the time she typically woke up. Instantly the fire in his eyes died and he felt his stomach flop at her noticeably paler features and faint dark circles under eyes.
"Are you sick or something?" he blurted out and brushed his hand against her forehead.
Tohru's cheeks heated and she tensed ever so slightly under his touch. Kyo's touch was rough, but not unkind. Yuki swatted Kyo's hand from Tohru, muttering about how it was rude to touch her face so casually. She grinned at their antics. Always hostile toward each other but never toward her. She tried to stifle a giggle but they both turned to look at her.
"I'm just really tired." she admitted to Kyo trying to dispel the worry she knew he felt.
"Which is why I suggested for you to cook the meals today and I will do the cleaning so Miss Honda can rest today, but you would have known that if you eavesdropped properly." Yuki quipped.
"Well it's not like I could hear you guys properly from my room." His face flushed and he looked away.
"Serves you right for listening in on us." Yuki taunted the cat before turning back to Tohru. "Miss Honda how about you go back to bed and rest now. We can handle things from here." he smiled again.
"Yea, what he said. I'll cook today so don't worry about any of that." he grumbled avoiding her gaze.
"I really appreciate it guys. Thank you." her smile was bright and warm, not the slightest bit forced.
Kyo felt his cheeks flush again and quickly turned his back to Yuki and Tohru. He hated this feeling he got whenever she smiled at him. It felt like his insides were crawling, and he didn't know why. He couldn't put a name to the feelings he had, and he didn't have anyone to confide in about it either. He especially hated Yuki seeing his face like this. It did nothing but piss him off and make him want to punch something or to punch the rat.
"Now get to bed and let us help you." Kyo grumbled walking down the hall toward the kitchen.
"Okay, I will." she responded appreciative of them. "Thanks guys." she smiled.
Yuki waved and followed Kyo down the hallway. Tohru wandered back to her bed. She had to work later this afternoon but after resting she would be fine. Her eyes closed and her thoughts faded as her head hit the pillow, and she fell back into a restful sleep.
xxx
Tohru slipped her shoes on as she readied herself to leave for work. Shigure leaned in the doorway of the living room watching over her with concern etched in his features.
"Tohru, I think you should stay home and continue resting. I wouldn't want you getting sick." he tried to reason with her.
Tohru shook her head. She couldn't stay home even if she wanted to. She needed tuition money and she could use some new clothes for the summer as she was starting to outgrow her old summer outfits.
"I'll be okay! I'm fully recharged after resting all day thanks to Kyo and Sohma!" she beamed.
"Well if I can't stop you at least wear a sweater it's going to be chilly this evening." he recommended to her.
She nodded grabbing a sweater off the hook and called a goodbye as she left for work. She gently tapped the tip of toes on the ground to push her shoes on all the way and slid the door shut behind her.
The boys were still working on the chores. Kyo was starting prep for dinner and Yuki was working on the laundry, of which there was a lot of. He had always appreciated Tohru's work but now he really had a new appreciation of her and all she did for them all while going to school and working.
He struggled hanging the clothes on the line but managed to hang them well enough to dry and figuring out the settings on the washer had been a near disaster, but he figured it out on his own. He decided while hanging the second load of laundry that he'd elect to help her out around her more often. She did more than her fair share around the house.
Kyo busied himself in the kitchen washing and chopping various root vegetables before throwing them in a huge pot on the stove. He really didn't hate cooking at all, and he really didn't mind doing it for her. He kept thinking of her goofy grin and couldn't help the smile that graced his face. He failed to notice Shigure watching him from the doorway.
Shigure had seen the change in Kyo since Tohru had moved in and he wondered how long it would take Kyo to figure out his feelings, of course they were all young and had plenty of time to sort out their feelings. Kyo noticed Shigure watching from the doorway. Kyo immediately frowned.
"You could help too ya know." he admonished the elder.
"Oh? But why? It looks like you've got everything under control in here." he teased as he walked into the living room taking a seat going over his latest manuscript.
"Whatever you'd probably just burn everything anyway." Kyo called out in annoyance over his shoulder.
Yuki finished the laundry and made his way to the living room area and sat down across from Shigure at the table.
"I see you managed to finish all that laundry." Shigure stated casually. "Hope you didn't shrink anything of mine." he added tauntingly.
"Only a few red shirts were shrunk." he responded loudly trying to get a rise out the cat.
"I swear if you shrunk my clothes I will kick your ass rat-boy." he hissed setting the pot of soup down on the table eyes narrowed and never left Yuki's.
"Go ahead and try." he provoked Kyo into a fight because in all honesty he was bored.
"Alright outside rat. Let's end this once and for all." he challenged with fire behind his eyes.
Yuki stood to meet him outside. They had taken to fighting outdoors recently to save Shigure's house and give Tohru less to clean up and worry about, not to mention to make sure she didn't accidentally get caught in the middle. Even with her out of the house it had become habit to take things outside anyway. Shigure thanked the gods for their consideration of his poor house and wallet since the main estate would no longer pay for repairs.
Just as they were about to head outside Shigure interrupted them.
"Look at the time, Tohru should be home any time now." he stated nonchalantly eyes barely leaving his manuscript save from a glance at the clock on the wall.
Both the cat and rat looked at one another and threw themselves back down at the table ignoring each other while waiting for Tohru to come home. They waited and waited watching the clock. Eventually Kyo took to pacing in the corridor by the door. Yuki just stared down at the table his hands balled up into fists resting on his thighs. He could feel his palms getting clammy.
"Where is she?" Kyo muttered anxiously.
"Interesting, it seems there have been a string of muggings recently in the area." Shigure supplied some current events, of which neither boy wanted to hear at that moment, but oh he loved to tease them.
Kyo's pacing grew faster and Yuki's fists balled tighter, as he tried not visualize someone mugging Tohru. She would be fine right? She knew just give the mugger whatever they wanted and run the opposite direction. It was common sense right? He imagined her with her goofy grin trying to start a conversation with the mugger, and find out his whole life story.
"UGh...she was so spacey today what if she got lost walking home?" Kyo groaned worriedly. He noticed how Tohru would occasionally space out and it wasn't outside the realm of possibility that she'd get herself lost walking home, especially in the dark. "It's getting dark out." He added.
Yuki paled. What if she did get lost in the dark? He inwardly shuddered thinking of darkness surrounding himself. He thought of those dark days he spent alone locked away. Yuki momentarily closed his eyes and took a deep breath to calm himself. He started to get antsy staring at the clock again. He resolved if she did not get home in the next 10 minutes he would go look for her.
Shigure hadn't really been worried before but as it got later he was actually beginning to worry. His eyes read the same line over and over on his manuscript unable to concentrate he sighed and placed it down on the table. He watched the worried expressions on the boy's faces and wondered just how much longer they would wait before taking off to find her.
"That's it! I'm going out looking for her!" Kyo growled in frustration as he grabbed his jacket and shoes. He looked back as he heard ruffling behind himself. Yuki had jolted toward the door.
"I'm going too look too, try not to get yourself lost in the dark." he spat hastily throwing on his jacket.
"Whatever rat-boy." he responded coolly but it lost it's bite with all the concern in his voice.
The sound of the phone ringing halted them in their tracks. Both boys turned toward Shigure who was answering the phone and listened intently.
Shigure moved quickly to answer before the third ring. "Sohma residence." he answered louder than necessary looking between the boys about to head out.
"Shigure, it's Hattori I'm calling about Honda." his voice is even but, Shigure can tell theirs an undertone of worry in it. Shigure turned to face away from the boys.
"Is she okay?" Shigure asks quietly.
Both boys inched closer having heard Shigure ask if 'she' is okay. It had to be Tohru , he was speaking about right? They inched closer and closer to Shigure for answers. Yuki's heart pounded, and his palms were sweaty still. Kyo felt like running away. His fight or flight senses going off. He felt like something was clenched around his heart. He didn't want to hear bad news. He was genuinely scared.
"It seems she suffered a," Hattori hesitated a moment before continuing "a fall at work. Momiji found her and called me. I've patched her all up and I'm driving her home now."
"That's a relief thank you Hattori, see you soon." he seemed more worried than before.
They watched as Shigure hung up the phone. They stared at him expectantly waiting for an update on Tohru. Kyo began pacing again because he couldn't just stand still, not when every fiber of his being was screaming for him to just run. Yuki wasn't fairing much better with his fists clenched so tightly at his sides he could likely draw blood.
"That was Hattori, apparently Tohru fell at work and was injured, but she's on her way home now. Hattori is driving her home. They should be here any time now."
xxx
Tohru sat in the front seat of the car with Hattori driving eyes puffy and red from tears, and a fresh bruise on her face and the shadow of black forming around her left eye. Her whole body hurt and she just wanted to start crying again, but she was almost home. She avoided eye contact with Hattori and clutched a fistful of her shirt to distract herself. Her gaze distant lost in her thoughts.
"Honda." His voice cut through the silence. "I'm not one to pressure, but I can erase your memories if you want. There's no need for you to continue suffering like this." Hattori offered quietly.
He really was a kind person. She silently considered his offer feeling the prickling of tears gathering in the corners of her eyes. She knew it was true. He could take her memories easily, but would she forget the Sohma's? Her jaw clenched tight at the though of never living with Kyo and Yuki. Never even being friends with them was too painful of a thought.
"H-How precise is your ability Hattori?" she asked hesitantly avoiding eye contact.
Hattori frowned keeping his eyes on the road. He understood her question and he was hoping she wouldn't ask, but he couldn't find it in himself to lie to her. Tohru reminded him so much of Kana, and he couldn't bare her hurting. If it were up to him he would just erase her memories and be done with it, but he couldn't make that choice for her regretfully. He already had those sins on his hands. He gripped the steering wheel tighter.
"Honda, I can take this memory away, but to do so you would have to give up the memories of the others." he admitted regretfully.
"I can't. I don't want to forget them." she whispered tears threatening to fall again.
"I understand and I respect your wishes." he spoke solemnly.
The rest of the drive was silent aside from the occasional sniffle. Both not sure what to say, or even if anything could be said. Her injuries weren't too serious from a medical standpoint but, it was more serious than it looked. Hattori focused on getting her home. It only took a few more minutes before they pulled up to the house. Tohru was roused from her thoughts hearing the gravel crunch under the tires.
"C-can we please keep this a secret Hattori-san?" she spoke quietly with shakiness to her voice. "I can't let them find out."
"It's part of my oath to my patients, so you don't have to be worried about that." his lips formed a tight line after his response.
He admired her a lot. She always wanted to push forward with a smile even when the most devastating things happened. He hadn't met anyone like her before. Even so he worried about keeping this secret, and he knew he had to, even if it threatened to swallow him up alive. He hoped her strength could endure Akito.
She was walking mostly fine with Hattori's assistance although her legs and ankle hurt a bit. She must have twisted them. She honestly couldn't focus during her medical assessment. He assisted her halfway up the stairs before both Kyo and Yuki barreled out the house each taking an arm leading her up the stairs. Their faces full of distress.
"Are you okay?" Yuki asked grasping her right arm gently.
"What the hell happened!?" Kyo yelled in that worried way he reserved for Tohru.
She willed the tears to stop but they started pouring against her will. They looked at her frozen as she stopped mid-step. It was dark so her injuries were difficult to see. Her arms noticeably trembled under their touch. Her body was rigid. Her breaths were shallow and shaky. She scrunched her face in a fight against her tears.
"I...I fell at work and got hurt." she answered hoarsely, her throat was raw from crying.
"She needs to rest." Hattori interjected keeping the boys on task, and giving Tohru a chance to gather her thoughts.
Kyo and Yuki escorted her carefully up the stairs to her room. The only sounds heard where sniffles and the way they shuffled through the house. Tohru walked face buried in her hands crying the whole time. Before she knew it she was in her bed with the covers pulled over her.
Shigure and Hattori followed slowly behind the trio talking quietly between themselves.
Hattori made them leave and he spoke with Tohru alone for a few minutes. Kyo paced a few feet away from her door looking angry.
"Back away from her door, are you eavesdropping again?" Yuki accused the pacing boy as he leaned in his doorway.
"No, I'm waiting for Hattori to come out and tell us she going to be okay. " he growled raising his fists in the air.
The door opened in front of them stopping their argument abruptly. Hattori slipped through the small gap he'd opened in the door and shut it cautiously to give Tohru as much privacy as possible. Kyo craned his neck trying to peer into her room, before catching Yuki's glare and turned his gaze to Hattori.
"She's been through a nasty fall and is still in pain. She needs to rest so I don't want anyone bothering her tonight asking her what happened." he paused realizing how harsh his tone was when he met two pairs of worried eyes. "You can talk to her about it tomorrow after she's feeling better." he added hastily.
"How bad are her injuries really Hattori?" Shigure asked eyeing him suspiciously.
"Mostly bumps and bruising but her ankle is sprained. Her head is fine thankfully no concussion. She tripped down the stairs at work. Momiji found her and called me." he explained just as he Tohru had agreed on.
"I knew she should have stayed home." Shigure sighed regretfully.
"I gave her some pain medication and a sedative just now. She should sleep through the night, but someone should check in on her once in a while to make sure she is okay."
"I'll do it." both boys said in unison glaring daggers at each other.
"Well, I'll let you two figure it out, I'm needed back at the estate." Hattori sighed at their antics.
Shigure walked with Hattori down the hall. Hattori gave a glance back at the two boys arguing over who would keep an eye on her. He let a soft smile shine through his usually stoic face. Tohru may be going through a lot in the near future, but he held hope watching how much they care about her.
Neither gave in so the both decided it best to take turns and worked out a schedule to make sure Tohru was always being checked on and helped if necessary. It was in times like this the cat and the rat found no problems working together. Tohru was the glue between them.
xxx
Back at the Sohma estate Hattori barged into Akito's room. He found her smirking up at him with a knowing smile on her lips. She already knew what was on his mind, and it didn't matter there was nothing to be done it was already over. She lounged on her futon leaning back lazily.
"You really crossed a line tonight Akito." he scowled at her.
"I am the head of this family and I will do as I please." She spoke with an air of authority.
"What will you do if she decides to press charges? There will be an investigation! I can't protect you if you do things like this. You can't operate outside the law! We can't afford to have an investigation I can't wipe that many memories!" he yelled heatedly.
Akito deliberately stood from her futon inching closer and closer as Hattori spoke. She grasped his hair tightly in her fist pulling his face down level with her own. He remained calm in her grasp not afraid of her, not anymore. He didn't have much left to lose these days, not since Kana and his eye. The fury in Akito's eyes brought a feeling of repugnance deep in Hattori's gut.
"I am the barer of this curse you and the rest of the Sohma must obey my every order. If I ask you to wipe the minds of everyone in town you will do it or die." she seethed pulling his head closer to her face by his hair. Her crazed eyes swirled with wrath.
"You're afraid of a little girl." he spat earning him a stinging slap across the face. He could taste the coppery tang of blood on his tongue. He knew it was true after a slap like that. He struck a nerve in the family head. He smirked despite having been hit. He knew Tohru was like a light in the darkness, bright and warm.
"Tohru is nothing but a pest, a bug. If I have to squash a few bugs to get my way I will. Yuki will come back, and that disgusting cat will be locked up until he dies." she howled growing irrationally heated.
"You've become twisted and jealous." he stated his features twisted into a scowl.
"Get out! Leave me alone!" she screeched throwing her glass above his head missing him by a few inches.
"You won't be able to break a girl like Honda." he stated closing the door as he left.
Akito screamed at the top of her lungs throwing everything she could get her hands on. Her nightstand flipped and various trinkets and such flew across the room. She screamed and screamed throwing everything against the wall watching it shatter. Her tears flowed freely in her fury as she collapsed on her futon.
Tohru will break.